Sorry if this is the wrong board but thought it was semi /lit/ related. I've inherited an old bible from a relative. It has sentimental value but it stinks to high heaven (it was with the deceased for several days before recovered). How can I go about getting rid of the smell without damaging the thin paper?
Buy a new one.
>>25200964It would just be sad to lose this one if I can help it.
If the smell is from a dead person the molecules you're dealing with are going to be of an organic sort. I don't know what to suggest, just thought that tidbit would be helpful. Personally what I would try is leaving it out in the Sun for several weeks.
>>25200955Go to the biggest library you know of and give them the book, they'll know what to do with it.>>25200977>Personally what I would try is leaving it out in the Sun for several weeks.Don't do that, it'll damage the paper.
>>25200977>>25200986>Personally what I would try is leaving it out in the Sun for several weeks.>Don't do that, it'll damage the paper.Regarding this, would it work (or at least somewhat lessen the smell) if I leave it on the windowsill airing it out that way for a week or two? I've been doing it for a few days and it has helped a bit, but it's only been 1-2 days tops and the smell is still quite noticeable.>Go to the biggest library you know of and give them the bookIt smells to such a degree that I'm hesitant bringing it anywhere public at the moment. I also don't really have any disposable income at the moment to hand it in to a professional restoration service.
>>25200995>if I leave it on the windowsillTo add to this, I've been keeping it on the inside of the windowsill, avoiding direct sunlight.
get a plastic container the size of the book.get a slightly larger plastic container that's big enough to hold the smaller container. put the book in the smaller container. pour a box of baking soda into the larger container.set the smaller container with the book into the container with baking soda.put a lid on the larger container, leave the smaller container with the book uncovered.leave it for a week or two.
You'll probably never get most of it out. Consider dusting the pages with talculm powder.Sunlight on the pages will help but fade it. Those dryer sheets you can get between pages will slowly rescent it, but it'll be expensive. Put it in a big plastic bin, shut, on a stand, and surround it with baking soda. Leave it in for a week, change the baking soda. If you see improvements, do that for a month.
>>25201002you could also probably just tear the lid off the baking soda box, and set it inside a covered container along with the book. the main idea is that you don't want the baking soda to get on your book.
>>25201005also don't do any of this "leave it in the sun. dust it with talcum. put dryer sheets on it" type shit.
on the subject of book-binding, would it be difficult to strip a book apart, digitize the pages, and then re-bind them?
>>25201002>>25201003>>25201005>>25201006Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. Looking through it further it seems that leaving it in a sealed container with a separate container of baking soda is the way to go. Will try this for a week or two and see how it goes.>>25201018Would also like to know this.
>>25201018depends on how it was bound, but generally no, it's not possible, or if it is, there's a high chance of damaging the book, or rebinding the pages in a satisfying manner. you can have it done professionally for usually well under $100. you ship the company the book, they digitze and ship it back and email you the digital format.
>>25201036I wish there was a small run printer on scritta paper who took custom orders. Being able to have books printed on that paper and bound in faux leather would be nice.
>>25200995>if I leave it on the windowsill airing it out that way for a week or two?That's a good idea. Maybe put a fan in front of it too, it's summer in a couple months anyway.>I also don't really have any disposable income at the moment to hand it in to a professional restoration service.I'd still go ask them what you can do on your own, without bringing the Bible to them. They handle manuscripts all the time, they should know a thing or two about corpse smell.
>>25201023Oh. I asked a morgue tech, they use something called neutrolene to remove corpse stink from fabric. Failing that, an ozone chamber for 48 hours.
>>25201137If he rented an ozone machine and put that book in there for that long the glue would completely fail and the leather would be destroyed.
>>25201160I don't know anything about it, I just asked what they did for corpse smell.
>>25201137>>25201163I appreciate it. I want to avoid treating the paper as much as possible to avoid damaging the script. It's a confirmation bible with the signature of my relative and dated around 1960. It's not worth anything but due to sentimental reasons I really want to keep it as close to as it sits right now.
Once you get the ofor sorted, you could have it professionally rebound, and have the pages re-gilded. There's a lot of people out there who do incredible work. The age likely means the paper is higher quality than most of todays
>>25200977paper is organic too though
>>25200977Leaving it in the sun was my first thought too. Sun is a natural disinfectant
